Family History1.148

Gaze History

NSG Memoir continued

 

His Presidential Address to the Baptist Union Assembly was on the subject of Life Abundant.  It began:

 

“In the midst of the dreary pages of an old yellow schoolbook known to many of my generation as “Nesfield’s English Grammar” was a bright oasis of pleasure – a section to which every schoolboy turned with great relief. It was headed “Play upon Words” or “Puns” and the examples given in smaller type were a delight to our youthful hearts.  One has remained in my memory for over forty years, albeit it is so hackneyed.  It ran like this: “Is life worth living? That depends on the liver!” It is on the subject of life and living that I wish to speak tonight.”

 

His first point was that abundant life is a matter of quality not quantity: he describes vividly the teeming life of Eastern cities. Then he went on to contrast interest in possessions and gadgets with concern for spiritual values: “What has greater power than love (or hate), commitment to a cause or ideal, or even a plain devotion to duty?” Thirdly, he said: “Spiritual growth, like physical growth, can develop only with food and exercise.”

 

He went on to apply these principles to Church life: “In many parts of the world today the Church is not a majority group but a minority one – a little flock set against the world.  But while we must always hold firm to this view of the separated Church and particularly separated from the State – we are, I think, a little in danger of carrying our separation to such a point that we do not make any impression either on our Government or the community in which we are set.  We are inclined to devote so much time and energy to keeping our Church organisation running smoothly that we miss the stream of pagan and secular life that is flowing so lustily around us and outside our walls.”

 

He called upon Baptists to sacrifice some of the independence of the local churches so that the stronger might help the weaker ones. And he called for a greater emphasis upon Theology: “A vague theology cannot produce a healthy Christianity”. He concluded by calling on his hearers to “live on the Resurrection side of the Cross”.

From his sixtieth birthday, Noel planned to retire gradually, taking one more day a week off work each year to devote to his other activities. 

1962 was the year of the Indo-China War.  As Franklin and Audrey and their two children were preparing to leave for their year’s furlough in New Zealand, the Chinese armies were advancing from the north of Assam. At the rate of advance they were making, they would have reached Agartala in three weeks.  Plans were made by the Indian authorities to evacuate the Government of Tripura to Calcutta. With Olwyn only thirty kilometres away in Brahmanbaria as well, this gave rise to some anxiety.  However, Franklin and Audrey and the children reached Bombay and their P&O steamer on time and Auckland early in 1963.  Meantime a cease-fire had been arranged in the war, and the Chinese forces withdrew behind their own borders. 

In 1963, with the grandchildren at home and living in the house at Murray’s Bay, when they were not accompanying their father on his deputation travels, Noel and Mary had a change from their normal routines, although involvement in Baptist Union committees and other voluntary work continued as usual. A highlight of the year was the engagement of Stuart and Catherine Moore on election day in November.  There was a celebration in the evening at Moores’, then watching the election results and finally at El Matador Restaurant.  Noel was full of high spirits as he drove the party around the town, and up to the summits of Mt Eden and One Tree Hill.